Refrigerator car



7 Sheets-Sheet -l I 4 ||1||||l01 l1 1 HE. {Ill} I a c. D. BoNsALL REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed Nov. 16, 1936 Nov. 15, 1938.

Nov. 15, 1938. c. D. BONSALL 2,136,999

REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed Nov. 16, less '1 Sheets-Sheet 2 fizz/er? MU my r 2% U U. Q

C/zazrZea Z2 BOTZJQZZ,

Nov. 15, 1938. BONSALL 2,136,999

REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed NOV. 16, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 C/mrZee flBwwaZZ,

c. D. BONSALL REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed Nov. 16, 1936 Nov. 15 1938.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 III Nov. 15, 1938. c. D. BONSALL, 2,136,999

REFRIGERATOR CAR Filed Nov. 16,1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 l l I I I I 1 I I I I L c. D. BONSQLL 2,136,999

REFRIGERATOR GAR Filed Nov. 16, 1936 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 w h U f Mm, 2 A

A m 9 M m M f I ll \fl/ Q s .O J 2 F. v. m 9, 9 9 i w M W? M Nov. 15, 1938.

Patented Nov. 1 5, 1938 REFRIGERATOR CAR Charles David Bonsall, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Standard Railway Equipment Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Delaware Application November 16, 1936, Serial No. 111,058

21 Claims.

have .a longer storage life.

The object of the invention is to provide a cooling means in a refrigerator car which will obtain a lower temperature or a more even temperature of the lading in the car than in the present conventional refrigerator car; retard car Wall leakage by retarding infiltration of air through the vertical walls of the car; to vary the amount of refrigeration produced without in- I creasing or decreasing the amount of refrigerant;

to provide means to refrigerate one side of the car more or less than the other side of the car without increasing or decreasing the amount of refrigerant; to increase the lading capacity of the car; to rapidly reduce the temperature of a warm lading in the car; to provide a car adaptable to use either wet ice, dryice, eutectic ice or brine as a refrigerant, and to provide a single refrigerant container in which either a solid or a liquid re frigerant may be used.

Another object of the invention is to obtain a positive circulation of air between a refrigerant chamber and the lading compartment of a refrigerator car; to obtain a relatively short path of movement of the circulating air and a relatively fast movement of the circulating air; thereby obtaining a lower temperature and a more even temperature to the circulating air, and also obtaining a lower temperature and a more even temperature of the car lading than in the conventional end bunker refrigerator car. By obtaining a lower temperature to the circulating air between the refrigerant and the lading a warm load (such as fruit with the field heat therein) can be cooled quicker than in the conventional car, thus reducing the amount of spoil: age which frequently occurs when the cooling system is too slow, therefore, another object of the invention is to provide a cooling means which can be used'to precool a car before it is loaded or precool a warm lading after it is loaded in the car and before the car is moved.

Another object of the invention is to provide a positive circulation of air between the refrigerant chamber and lading compartment of a refrigerator car by placing the refrigerant chamber in the upper part of the lading compartment and providing an uninterruptedinsulated flue from the refrigerant chamber to an air space below a foraminous secondary floor, and a further object is to form the 'floor of the refrigerant chamber to cause the cooled air tomove by gravity into the above mentioned insulated flue and to form the ceiling of the lading compartment to direct the air. warmed by the lading into the refrigerant chamber. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a heating means below the lading compartment, or adjacent the lower part thereof, (or perhaps in the air space below the foraminous floor) so that said ceiling will direct the air warmed by the heating means into the refrigerant chamber and said chamber floor will cause the relatively cool air to move by gravity into the above mentioned insulated flue.

elements comprising the device so that either air cooled by a refrigerant or air warmed by a heating means will cause positive circulation of air about or through the lading in the car.

Another object is to position a refrigerant container near the roof of the car and adjacent each of the side walls of the car and provide means so that the movements of the air currents between the respective refrigerants and the lading compartment will be in coextensive vertical planes extending crosswise or laterally. of the car. In the present so-called end bunker car a refrigerant chamber is located at each end of the car and as such a car is about thirty-four feet between end bunker bulkheads, the length of the path of circulating air in one horizontal direction is one-half of this distance or seventeen 7 feet; whereas in my arrangement, the length of each path of circulating air in one horizontal direction is about four feet. This means that even though the speed of the movement of air is the same in my car as in the conventional end bunker'car (which it is not) the circulating air In other words, one ofthe objects is to so associate and arrange the would more frequently be cooled by the refrigerant which would result in a colder air and a more even temperature of the circulating air and also a colder lading and a more even temperature of the lading. To obtain the best ,re-

sults with my arrangement the lading should be positioned in the car with vertical spaces or flues between the packages or other containers of lading to allow the air to rise and cool the lading.

However,- this is now customary.

Another object is to so place refrigerant containers near the roof and adjacent the sidewalls of the car so as to provide flues between the refrigerant and the walls, roof, drip pan and adjacent containers, whereby air may circulate on all six sides 'of the container, (that is, completely surround it) so as to obtain the maximum area of refrigerant exposure to the circulating air.

Another object of the invention is to provide somewhat independent movements of circulating air adjacent each side wall of the car which cooperate to balance each other under normal conditions and maintain substantially the same temperatures on both sides of the car, and another object is to provide means to cause the refrigerating means or heating means on one side I of the car to function more than the corresponding means on the other side of the car. When trains are making long runs from west to east (as from Wenatchee, Washington, to New York, N. Y.,) in the winter it may be desirable to heat the north side of the train more than the south side, thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide insulation to prevent the air which has been cooled by the refrigerant from entering the lading compartment until it reaches the air space below the secondary foraminous floor, thereby preventing leakage or shorts in the circulating air system which would decrease the volume of movin 'air and also reduce its speed. A more rapid circulation of air causes the air to come in contact more frequently with the refrigerant thereby lowering the temperature of the air so as to increase its heat absorbing capacity. In other words, one of the objects is to provide a positive or forced circulation of air between the refrigerant and the lading in the car.

Another object is to provide a refrigerant container positioned relative to the air flues to cause circulation of air between the refrigerant chamber and the lading compartment of the car in which either a wet ice, dryice, eutectic ice or brine may be used as a refrigerant, and a further object is to provide a wet ice container (with foraminous walls) in which a dryice container (with solid walls) may be placed in such a position so that the dryice will function as arefrigerant to cause the aforesaid circulation of air between the refrigerant chamber and lading compartment.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the elements comprising the cooling device so that the cold air moving from the refrigerant chamber will pass through air circulating flues within, or adjacent to, the vertical walls of the car. Another object of the invention is to provide vertical air flues in an insulated side door corresponding ,the car is in heater service the air in the side wall and side door flues is warmer than the air outside the car which also retards infiltration of air through the wall." 'Trainsof refrigerator cars hauling perishable commodities are moved as fast as sixty miles per hour whichincreases the infiltration of air through the walls and roof of the car. Also the fast movement of long and heavy trains, together with the severe shocks of switching, cause considerable racking-and weaving of the cars, causing leaky walls, and thus necessitating protection against air entering through the walls of the car.

The refrigerant being positioned between the lading compartment and the roof of the car constitutes an additional insulation for the upper part of the car so that the amount of insulation in the actual roof of the car may be reduced.

Another object of the invention is to drain the melted ice of a wet ice refrigerant into duets within or adjacent to the vertical walls of the car so as to further cool these vertical walls. The above mentioned air circulating flues may be used for these drains. These ducts preferably extend to the outside of the car and are preferably provided with water seals.

Another object of the invention is to position the refrigerant containers (or refrigerant chambers) adjacent the roof of the car so as to increase the area of the floorspace over the conventional car which has a refrigerant bunker in each end of'the car extending from the floor to the ceiling of the car, without increasing the length or width of the car, and thereby increase the carrying capacity of the car. The conventional car can not be loaded to within less than two feet from the ceiling on account of the high temperature of the atmosphere near the ceiling spoiling the commodity, whereas owing to the colder temperature of the air adjacent the ceiling of the lading compartment of a car of the type herein described and claimed, the lading may be piled very close to the ceiling without damage to the lading.

Another object of the invention is to attach the refrigerant containers to the car structure so that they can be removed and replaced independently of each other and without disturbing the roof of the car.

Another object is to provide a plurality of refrigerant containers, preferably arranged in rows near the roof of the carand adjacent eachj of the side walls, with each of said containers provided with means for loading it with a refrigerant independently of the other containers so that some of the containers may be filled with refrigerants, while the others remain empty or one end only of the car may be refrigerated. The refrigerant containers adjacent the doorways, where the most heat leakage occurs, may be made deeper, wider or otherwise made to hold more refrigerant. In the above mentioned arrangements a more even distribution of the cold air may be provided.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame work within the car and to support the refrigerant containers to both such frame work and the roof of the car to take advantage of the great strength of the modern all-steel car roof so as to decrease the weight and cost of the frame work and the space which it occupies within the car. Meat racks may be supported by such frame work.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a typical cross section of a railway refrigerator car incorporating my improved method of refrigerating and heating the lading in the car and also showing methods of supporting and associating the refrigerant container with the car structure.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of upper part of the construction shown in Fig. 1 extending longitudinally of, the car.

railway refrigerator car I Figs. 4-7 inclusive are diagrams showing modifications in the arrangement of refrigerant containers.

Figs. 8-14 inclusive are diagrams showing modifications in the relative position of the refrigerant containers to the otherparts of the car.

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 show a modified construction wherein the refrigerant container is supported by members which do not interfere with proved car.

My invention is adaptable to a refrigerator car Y having spaced apart insulated ear walls 2; an

insulated roof 3; an insulated floor 4; a foraminous floor or floor rack 5 above the insulated I of the container and'the drip pan 21.

door and an air space 6 between said floors.

A refrigerant container ii is positioned near the roof. 3 of the car and adjacent each of the side walls 2-2 of the car. These containers 8 are made with foraminous walls when wet ice or eutectic ice is used as a refrigerant; with solid Walls when brine, or dryice is used as a refrigerant, or partially solid and partially foraminous if desired; for instance, the foraminous part it may be usedto hold wet icefor precooling the car and lading and the solid part it may be used to hold dryice to provide refrigeration in transit. A foraminous basket 20, as shown in Fig. 18, may be set in a container 2| having solid walls with the foraminous walls 22 spaced apart from the solid walls 23 to provide air flues 2425 therebetween so that wet ice may be used as a refrigerant by putting such ice in the foraminous basket 20 so that air will circulate between the foramlnous walls 22 and the solid walls 23 and also between the solid bottom walls 2 of the container and a drip min 21 below the container. When brine (or other liquid) is used as a refrigerant it is confined by the solid walls 23-26 and the air circulates between the solid bottom wall 26 Under certain conditions frost will form on the bottom 26 of the solid container but the melted frost is caught by the drip pan 21 and furthermore the moving air retards such formation of frost. The

containers are supported by the beams 23 to the rafters 29. A drain may be provided for the container which is provided with a closing valve. When brine is being used as a refrigerant the foraminous basket 20 retards the movement of the liquid brine due to the movements of the car. I 1

Each refrigerant container 3 is preferably spaced apart from the roof 3 of the car to provide an air flue l3 therebetween and also preferably spaced apart from the adjacent side wall 2 of the car to provide 'an air flue I4 therebetween. A

hatch opening I5 is provided preferably in the roof of the car above the refrigerant container 8 for filling it with a refrigerantremoving the refrigerant or cleaning the c'ontainerw The hatch opening may be provided wlththe usual plug, lid.

locking and supporting mechanisms. I preferably provide a row of refrigerant containers adjacent each eave of the car, (see Fig. 3), which are spaced apart (H) to provide air flues between the ends of the respective containers. In this arrangement the air can completely surround the on the and spaced apart therefrom to provide a vertical wall flue 3| which communicates with the air space 6 below the foraminous floor 5 and also communicates with the air'flues |3-|4 having contact with the refrigerant in the refrigerant containers. These air fiues 3|; are preferably separated into a plurality of vertical flues so as to create a pull or draft from the refrigerant to the space below the foraminous floor. The vertical flue 3| is preferably lined on both sides with thin sheets of metal which are preferably painted with brine resisting bituminous material. These metallic sheets of metal protect the side wall 2 and partition 3|! from moisture and rotting and also prevent infiltration.

Some kind of closure aperture or duct, such as the doorway 35 and hinged door 36 (see Fig. 19) is preferably provided between the vertical flues 3i and the lading compartment for access for cleaning which are preferably positioned adjacent the upper part of the side wall. For instance,

inside of 'each'car side (and end) wall 2 a stream of water may be run through such an aperture to flush the accumulated mud and debris on to the floor from where it can be easily removed.

An insulated partition 40 is provided below each the vertical air flue 3| hear or in each side wall of the car and the vertical air flues in the side door. downwardly and outwardly (see Figs 1, 9, 10, 11 and 12) so that the air cooled and densified by the refrigerant will move by gravity toward and into the vertical fines 3|. Each partition 40 preferably comprises a metallic (or otherwise waterproofed) upper member 43 forming a drip pan for the melted ice, brine or debris, which pan is positioned to direct such meltedice, brine or debris into the adjacent vertical flue 3| which forms a drain.- The drain is preferably provided with means to discharge such materials outside of the car, which means is preferably provided with a water seal. A drain 44 independently of the flue may be provided. a The insulated partition 40 may comprise one or more layers of tongue and groove boards with insulation therebetween if desired. g

The insulated partitions '40 on the opposite sidesof the car are spaced apart to provide an air passageway adjacent the longitudinal center of thecar through which the warm air rises and moves into the refrigerant chambers on opposite sides of the car. The inclined partitions 40 direct the air warmed by the lading into and through this passageway 50. The margins of the inclined partitions 40 adjacent the passageway 50 may be provided with insulated members 52 extending upwardly therefrom so as to further raise the bottom of the air entrance ports into the refrigerant chamber above the lower portion of the inclined partition 4|! so as to cooperate with the inclined partition to direct the movement of This partition 40 is preferably inclined circulation of air. These upstanding members 52 will also serve as splash boardsto prevent melted ice or brine from splashing into the lading compartment and will also serve to prevent ice from accidentally getting into the l ding compartment when the refrigerant conta ner is being filled. These. members 52 are spaced away from the refrigerant container to provide flues 58.

"The insulated partition 40 below the refriger: ant container .8 and the insulated partition 88 between the side-wall 2 and the lading compartment are associated to form a continuous uninterrupted insulation from the passageway 88 to the foraminous floor 5 and the air flue 4| below the refrigerant container 8 and the-air flue 8| between the insulated partition 88 and the side wall 2 are associated and arranged to provide a continuous uninterrupted air flue for circulating air from the passageway 58 to the space 8 below the foraminous floor 5 so that heat from the lading compartment cannot be absorbed by the cold air circulating until the air has reached the ance the temperature of the air on opposite sides of the lading compartment of the car. The arrows in Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive show that the air warmed by the lading rises upwardly and is guided by the inclined partition 48 into the pas sageway 58 and coming in contact with the refrigerant in the refrigerant containers 8 is cooled and densified and therefore moves down the inclined partitions 40 until the vertical car wall flues 8| through which it descends by gravity into the space '8 below the foraminous floor 5 from whence it rises to replace the aforesaid warmed air. The rising warmed air causes a pull on the cooled air in the-side wall flues and also the gravity push of the cooled air in the side wall fluesacauses the warmed air in the lading compartment torise." I

In the application of my invention toa refrigerator car, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the refrigerant container 8 for use with wet ice or eutectic ice as a refrigerant, comprises a metallic frame 80 having foraminouswalls provided by the use of a netting, expanded metal or perforated plate. This refrigerant container 8 is positioned below the hatch opening ii for filling and is preferably provided with an upstanding.

flange 6| which underlies a fia e of the hatch frame 82 to direct the ice into the container. The upstanding flange 8| is preferably provided with inwardly deflected louvers 88 to allow air to circulate over the refrigerant but these louvers are bent inwardly to directice or brine into the refrigerant container 8. When dryice or brine is used as a refrigerant the refrigerant container will be provided with solid or non-perforated walls. In Fig. 1, the refrigerant container 8 is shown having the part II adjacent the side wall 2 with solid walls for use with dryice and the remaining portion l8 of the container with foraminous walls for use with wet ice. Wet ice is frequently used toprecool the car (and sometimes also the lading) while dryice is frequently used to maintain the desired temperature while the car is in transit.

such side walls.

The lower rafters 10 extend between and are, supported by the opposite car side walls 2-4 and preferably comprise an inverted channel section, outwardly projecting lateral flanges ll. Longitudinal extending supports 12 extend between and are supported by lateral flange 1| of adjacent lo wer rafters. The containers 8 rest upon and are supported by'these rafters 10 in such a manner as to allow the containers to expand and contract as their temperature varies. In other words, the containers 8 are slidably supported by the supports I2 and a stop I4 (Fig. 2) or other means is positioned adjacent the ends of the containers to limit such expansive movement.

The upper arched rafters I5 are positioned adjacent the roof structure 8 and extend between and are supported by the car side walls 2--2 and .the containers 8 are suspended from these upper rafters by the straps 18. In this arrangement the containers are supported by both. the upper and lower rafters.

The length of each container 8 is less than the distance between the flanges of adjacent lower rafters (see Fig. 2) so that after part of the partition 48 has been removed a container 8 could be removed (or replaced) by swinging the rafters iii in a horizontal plane and then dropping them out of the way. I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the car of Figs. 1 and 2 and shows the relation of the refrigerant containers 8, hatch openings I5, spaces I 1 between adjacent containers and passageway 58.

The damper 85 is pivotally mounted upon the lower rafters l0 and is movable to vary the area of the passageway 50. The damper 95 is preferably controlled by thermostats positioned in the lading compartment.

I also preferably provide a door 96 slidably mounted (81) upon each of the upwardly projecting insulated members 52 to form arestrictable extension thereof so as to provide means to vary the amount of air flow from the passageway 58 to the refrigerant container adjacent one car wall, relative to the'air flow from the passageway 50 to the refrigerant container adjacent the other carwall.

So far I have described the containers. as being positionednear the roof of the carand adjacent one of the car side walls. However, Figures 4 to 7 inclusive show modifications of arrangements of the containers in the car wherein one container 80 is arranged partially parallel with an end wall 8| of the car which also has portions 82 thereof parallel with each of the side walls 2 of the car so that a blanket of insulated air is provided adjacent the end wall 8| as well as the-side walls 2 of thecar. In such a container the sloping partition adjacent the end wall would slo'pe downwardly toward the end wall 8| and the portions of the ceiling adjacent the side walls would slope downwardly toward The division betweenthese sloping ceilings is shown by the light diagonal line 88.-- On account of the great leakage of heat into the car around the side doors it may be desirable to provide additional refrigeration at such places. In such case I would provide a laterally extending refrigerant container .85. Fig. 6 shows an arrangement wherein the end containers 86 are. L-shapedhaving one portion 88 parallel with the end wall 8| and anotherportion- 88 parallel with the side wall 2. In this arrangement the containers80-9| adjacent the respective side walls are sta'ggered. In Fig. 7

the rectangular container 92 is shown adjacent each end wall 8I and other rectangular containers 93 adjacent the side walls 2 and in such end wall container'I prefer to position sloping partitions so as to direct part of the cooled air to the side wall flues and part to the end wall flues.

The end walls should be provided with insulated flues as heretofore described for the side walls.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17 the car is provided with a plurality of spaced apart rafters I preferably of inverted U-shape formation with laterally extending flanges adjacent the lower margin thereof. These rafters I00 are spaced below the roof 3 and extend between and are supported by the opposite side walls 2 of the car. Brackets I03-I04 are mounted upon these rafters I00 which are arranged to move lengthwise of the rafters, and are provided with portions I which extend beyond the flanges IOI of the rafters.

Refrigerant containers I01 are positioned near the roof and adjacent to the side walls but are preferably provided with spaces or flues on all six sides of each container as heretofore described. I preferably provide a plurality of containers III! on each side of the car for simplicity of manufacture; installation and removal from the car and I also preferably provide spaces or air conduits I08 between the ends of adjacent containers so that the length of each container I0I is less than the distance between the adjacent rafters I00 or less than thedistance's between the fianges IIJI of adjacent rafters.

An insulated partition IIO is spaced below the containers I01 to form an air flue III therebetween as heretofore described.

Angular frame members 2 are provided having one arm H3 supporting the floor or lower wall II4 of the container and the other arm II5 extending upwardly adjacent one of the side walls of the container. These frame members II2 extend longitudinally of the car beyond the refrigerant container I01 and are attached to the rafters I00 so as to support the refrigerant and the refrigerant container upon the rafters. The upstanding arm H5 resists the inertia of the refrigerant whether such refrigerant is dryice, wet ice or brine. The upper frame members III are just the length of the container.

Carrying members I for supporting the floor of the container between the opposite angular frame members II2 extend upwardly within the container and also resist the inertia of the refrigerant. By projecting the angular frame members H2 and carrying member I20 upwardly instead of downwardly they do not project into the flue III and restrict the area thereof. By this arrangement the inside vertical height of the car may be increased, or putting it another way, the height.. of the car overall may be decreased.

The length of the franfe members II2, preferably also the length of the carrying member I20, is less than the distances between the, flanges IOI of adjacent rafters I00 and the ends of the angular frame members H2 and carrying members I20 are preferably supported] by. the brackets I03 and I00 respectively so that when it is desired to remove the container I01 by lowering .it the brackets I03 and I04 are moved length- Wise of the rafter whereupon the refrigerant container with the angular frame members H2 and carrying member I 20 attached thereto may be lowered without disturbing the rafters.

A plurality of vertical columns I23 are positioned within each of the side vertical flues.

These columns I23 are supported at their lower ends to the sub-structure of the car in any convenient manner. The refrigerant containers are partially supported by these columns preferably I25 extending between and secured to the side walls '2 of the car. I preferably support these meat racks upon some of the columns I23. The central part of the meat rack is supported 'by the link I25 which is attached to the longitudinally extending beam I21 which in turn is supported by the rafters I00. The longitudinally extending timber I29, which is engaged by the meat hooks, is supported by the brackets I upon the meat rack I25.

Fig. 19 shows a modification wherein the container I is designed for use with dryice. The container has solid side walls I36 and a corrugated bottom wall I31 to maintain the dryice somewhat spaced apart from the refrigerant chamber I30 to retard the sublimation of the dry ice and consequent absorption of heat. The

container I35 is suspended from the arched rafters I40 .by the supports I. An insulated plug I02 and lid I43 is provided to close the hatchway. The partition I40 is heavily insulated to prevent leakage of cold air through it. A drip pan MI is shown to catch moisture of condensation.

' F igs. 20 and 21 show a side door I having erably flush with the side wall partition 30. This arrangement provides a smooth interior sidewall surface and eliminates projections which might damage the lading. An aperture I6I is also provided in the upright I58 which registers with an aperture I62 in the upright I63 forming a part of the car body to provide lateral communication between the door flue I51 and the side wall flues 3|. The bottom of the partition I 56 is substantially flush with the foraminous floor 5 so that the door flue I51 communicates with the space 6 between the insulated floor 4 and the foraminous floor 5. I

In this arrangement the entire side wall of the car is insulated by the cold air and protected from infiltration by the blanket of cold air and furthermore any air which. leaks between the edge of the door and the adjacent car part is cooled by the cold air passing through the apertures IBI and I62. Leakage of air around the door usually makes the middle of the car the warmest part of the car and the lading, but with my arrangement a refrigerant container is preferably positioned adjacent the doorway and with my improved door, cold air is delivered under the load at the doorway.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be the exact details of construction shown and demunicating with said air space below the foraminous floor, a downwardly and outwardly inclined insulated partition below each of said containers forming the floors thereof to provide downwardly and outwardly inclined flues therebetween, said containers being spaced apart from the roof. to provide substantially horizontal air flues there- .between communicating with said vertical ilues, the insulated partitions adjacent the opposite car walls being spaced apart to provide .an air passagewayadiacent the longitudinal center of the car, the inclined partition forming .an upwardly and inwardly inclined ceiling for the lading compartment of the car. said insulated vertical flues and said insulated partitions associated to provide uninterrupted insulated flues from the passagew'ay to the space below the foraminous floor whereby the air warmed by the lading rising upwardly is guided by the inclined ceilings into the passageway and coming in contact with the refrigerant in the refrigerant .container is cooled and densifled and therefore moves by gravity into the vertical car wall flues through which it descends by gravity into 'the space below the foraminous floor from whence it rises to replace the warmed air. 9

2. In a refrigerator car having spaced apart insulated car walls, an insulated roof, an insulated floor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor and an air space between said floor, in combination with a refrigerant container near said roof and adjacent to but spaced apart from each car wallrespectively to provide air flues therebetween, a vertical-flue in each of said car walls insulated from the lading compartment of the car .and communicating with said air space below the foraminous floor, a downwardly and outwardly inclined insulated partition below each of said containers and spaced therefrom to provide downwardly and outwardly inclined flues therebetween, said containers being spaced apart from" the roof to provide substantially horizontal air flues'therebetween, said flues communicating with said vertical flues, the insulated partitions adjacent the opposite car walls being spaced apart to provide an air passageway adjacent the longitudinal center-of the car, the inclined partition forming an upwardly and inwardly inclined ceiling for the ladi'ng compartment of the car, said insulated vertical flues and said insulated partitions associated to provide uninterrupted insulated flues from the passageway to the space below the foraminous floor whereby the air warmed by the lading rising upwardly is guided by the inclined ceilings into the passageway and surrounding the refrigerant in the refrigerant container is cooled and densified and therefore moves downthe inclined partition into the vertical car wall flues through which it descends by gravity into the space below the foraminous I 2,130,999 understood that the invention is not limited to floor from whence it rises to replace the warmed 3. In combination with the side walls, roof and floor of a refrigerator car: refrigerant containers space; means providing ducts in the side walls of the car, the lower ends of which communicate with the space between the floor and the floor rack; and enclosing structures for said refrigerant containers substantially closed except for cold air discharge openings leading to said wall ducts, and air inlets at a higher elevation than said discharge openings, whereby air cooled by the refrigerant is compelled to pass downwardly through the side wall ducts and into the space under the lading whence it is distributed by the foraminous' floor rack throughout the lading space and then passes into the spaces enclosing the refrigerant containers.

4. The refrigerator car construction of claim 3 in which the enclosing structures for refrigerant containers on opposite sides of the car are spaced apart so that air may pass from the lading space into either one or both of the spaces enclosing the refrigerant containers according to thermal conditions.

5. The refrigerator car construction of claim 3 in which the enclosing structures for the refrigerant containers have outwardly and downwardly sloping bottoms forming drip pans whereby the water from the refrigerant containers is conducted into the side wall ducts.

6. The refrigerator car construction of claim 3 in which the side wall ducts extend substantially from end to end of the car whereby circulation of air through said ducts aids in insulating the side walls through substantially their full length.

' 7. The refrigerator car construction of claim 3 in which one of the side walls has a door formed so that the duct on this side of the car extends through said door.

8'. The refrigerator car construction of claim 3 in which the end walls of the car are provided with air ducts extending from the spaces enclosing the refrigerant containers to the space between the floor and floor rack.

9. The refrigerator car construction of claim 3 in which there are a plurality of refrigerant containers on each side of the car spaced apart longitudinally to provide for the circulation of air between the ends of .the refrigerant containers. 10. The refrigerator car construction of claim 3 in which the refrigerant containers have horizontal bottoms and the enclosing structures therefor are provided with bottoms sloping downwardly toward the ducts in the side walls of the car.

11. The refrigerator car construction of claim 3 wherein heat insulation is provided between the lading space and the side wall ducts and between the lading space and the refrigerant containers. 12. The refrigerator car construction of claim 3 in combination with means for varying the proportion of-air entering the enclosing structures for the refrigerant containers on opposite sides of the car, wherebyv either side of the car may be cooled more or less than the other side according to outside thermal conditions. 7

13. In combination with the roof, floor and side I walls of a refrigerator car; refrigerant containers in the upper part of the car; foraminous racks to 75 support the lading, form an air duct below the lading and provide for the distribution of cold airand means providing ducts in said side walls lead-- I ing from said enclosing spaces to said air ducts,

one of the side walls of the car being provided with a door and the duct in through said door. E

14. In combination with the roof, walls and floor of a refrigerator car; a refrigerant container in the upper part of the car having a horizontal bottom; an enclosing structure for refrigerant container, the bottom of which slopes downwardly toward oneof the walls of the can and means providing a duct ,in said last named wall communicating with the space within said enclosingstructure -and with the interior of the car near the floor.

15. In combination with the roof, walls and fioor of a refrigerator car; a refrigerant container floor of a refrigerator car; refrigerant containers in'the upper part of the car underthe roof: a foraminous floor rack to support the lading, form an air duct under the lading and provide for distribution of refrigerated air throughout the lading space; ducts formed in the side and end walls of the car, and in each case, extending substantially for the full length and width of said walls respectively for conducting refrigerated air from the region of said refrigerant containers to the space under said fioor rack.

17. In combinat on with the walls, roof and floor of a refrigera or car; a refrigerant container adjacent the roof of the car; a rack spaced from the floor to support the lading, said rack being foraminous to provide for the distribution of refrigerated air to the lading space; means providing a duct in one of the car walls, the lower end of which communicates with thespace between the floor and floor rack, and an enclosing structure for said refrigerant container substantially closed except for' a cold air discharge opening leading to said wall duct andv an air inlet at a higher elevation than the discharge opening whereby air cooled by the refrigerant is compelled to pass downwardly through the wall duct into the space under the lading whence it is distributedby the foraminous floor rack throughout the cluding rafters extending between and supported by the'car walls, longitudinally extending cons'iid wall extending tainer supports extending between and supported ,by the rafters, a plurality of vertical columns positioned within said ducts forming supports for the opposite ends of the rafters.

19. The combination described in claim 3'ineluding rafters extending between and supported by the car walls, longitudinally extendingcontainer supports extending between and supported by the rafters, a plurality of vertical columns positioned within said ducts forming supports for the outer sides of the refrigerant containers and v binationwith the side walls, roof and floor of a refrigerator car; refrigerant containers adjacent the roof and opposite sides of he car, a rack spaced from the floor to support the lading and to form an air duct below the lading, said rack being foraminous to provide for distribution of refrigerated air to the lading space, and insulated flues associated with the side walls of the car, the lower ends of which communicate with the space between the floor and the floor rack, said structure also including insulated compartments in which the refrigerant containers are arranged, which compartments are substantially closed except for cold air discharge outlets leading to said wall flues and air inlets at a higher elevation than said dischargeoutlets leading from the lad-'- ing space of the car, whereby air cooled by the refrigerant in the containers .is-compelled to pass downwardly through the side wall flues and into the duct under the lading whence it is distributed by the foraminous floor throughout the lading \space and then passes into said air inlets.

21. In combination with the side walls, roof and floor of a refrigerator car; refrigerant containers adjacent the roof and opposite sides of the car, a rack spaced from the floor to support the lading and to form an air duct below the lading, said rack being foraminous to provide for distribution of refrigerated air to the lading space, insulated flues associated with the side walls of the car, the lower ends ofwhich communicate with the space between the floor and the floor rack, and means arranged to cooperate with said roof and side Walls to define insulated compartments inwhich the refrigerant containers are arranged, said compartments having air outlets communicating with said flues and air inlets at a higher elevation than said outlets and communicating with the lading space of the car, whereby air cooled by the refrigerant in the containers is compelled to pass downwardly through theside wall flues and into the duct under the lading whence it is distributed by the foraminous floor throughout the lading space, and then passes into said air inlets.

CHARLES DAVID BONSALL. 

